The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1887-02-09
DIAMONDS.
nm Advance in Their European Value
That VIII Soon DO Felt Here.

nouncod "a great revival III the dia-
mond trade Of Brusselsn and great
sales OF diamonds to America. SO far
as concerned q revival OF the diamond
trade generally in Europe that is all
right, but MI. Dreyfuss, who is cred-
tied with knowing all that is to be known
OF tho diamond business, says that
brussels is no moro a market than is
Now York. There are only two great
markets, Amsterdam and Antwerp,
ana next to them stand Paris and Lon
don. But it is quite true that not only
IS there a gratifying activity in tho
diamond trade, but a noteworthy in
crease in Values. Tho most precious OF
stones arc worth now, in the European
markets, 10 to 90 per cent. more than
they were a month ago. They had
been approaching gradually for q year
past, but have made their principal
Jump within q few weeks. as yet this
advance is hardly felt on this side OF.
the water, but 1t will be just as soon as
importers will have to replace their pre-
sent stock by new purchases in Europe.
There are still here dealers who have
cheap lots on hand that they can sell
low ut profit, and others who are COM
PEELED to sell irrespective Of rising
values, but the popular demand will
soon exhaust those sources Of supply
and remove their influence in keeping
tho market down, and then If the pre-
sent European tendency continues dia-
H.onds may come To- he regarded as al
expensive luxury.
a letter received here tho other day
from II Of the principal Partisan
dealers says that he has sold off his en-
tire stock or diamonds on hand at much
larger prices than he ever expected to
get, but IL he had to replace them he
could not do 80 for even q greater sum-.
"Tllere are two reasons for the pre-
sent rise in the value Of diamonds, al
though both come to the Same thing
the falling off in their production. The
first is, that during the winter season
at the Cape there is annually a greatly
dimislled production, even when there
is nothing to disturb the regular course
of events; tho second, that the South
African gold fields have attracted to
them great numbers Of the miners
formerly employed in the diamond
mines, and that these are no longer
operated to their full capacity. The
actual cost Of production Is just about
what it was when these diamond fields
were FIRST developed, for, if the cost OF
MINING has increased with tho dccrcr-
ing OF the mines, As il has 10 the aN.
told OF aouo % per cent, that is fully
offset Oy the reduced cost Of haYcl and
rtiansp.oNgllaattllGoq 60 apd from tho diamond
Mines. That The Brazilian diamond
mines have yielded comparatively littl
IL late years. is q fact already we'll
known. And, by the way, the fanciful
distinction In favor Of 'old mine stones'
no longer exists, except in tho ardent
negotiations Of Ouida and other story
writer's. and in the easy credence &C
corded by their readers. Dealers only
consider the color and perfection Of the
stone submitted for their judgment,
not where it comes from. a fine blue
white stone ID s. fine blue-white stone,
whether it comes from Brazil or from
Africa. African diamonds were rated
low at first, because nearly all Of the
earliest that entered the market were
Off color. but since then other and bet
ter deposits have been found. and some
Of tho finest stones in the market to-day
are from the cape.
"The private persons who make ti.eil
purchases abroad because it is the pro.
per thing to buy one's diamonds in
Paris or London, you know arc now
paying very much higher prices for them
over there than they would have to pay
here, even with the duties honestly
aid.
.H7.. ...H-.